System, method, and product for scanning of biological materials employing dual analog integrators
First Claim
1. A system for reducing a dark period between successive data acquisition periods associated with the detection of one or more target molecules hybridized to at least one of a plurality of probes disposed upon a biological probe array, comprising:
- a switch that alternately directs an analog signal between a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein a period of time is required to alternate between the first and second circuits and the period of time includes a dark period;
a first integrator associated with the first circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a first integrated value;
a second integrator associated with the second circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a second integrated value; and
an analog/digital converter that produces a digital value for each of the first integrated value and the second integrated values wherein the signal from the first and second integrated values are our of phase to reduce the dark period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a system is described for reducing a dark period between successive data acquisition periods associated with the detection of one or more target molecules hybridized to at least one of a plurality of probes disposed upon a biological probe array. The system comprises a switch that alternately directs an analog signal between a first circuit and a second circuit, where a period of time is required to alternate between the first and second circuits; an integrator associated with the first circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a first integrated value; a second integrator associated with the second circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a second integrated value; and an analog/digital converter that produces a digital value for each of the first integrated value and the second integrated values.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A system for reducing a dark period between successive data acquisition periods associated with the detection of one or more target molecules hybridized to at least one of a plurality of probes disposed upon a biological probe array, comprising:
- a switch that alternately directs an analog signal between a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein a period of time is required to alternate between the first and second circuits and the period of time includes a dark period;
a first integrator associated with the first circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a first integrated value;
a second integrator associated with the second circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a second integrated value; and
an analog/digital converter that produces a digital value for each of the first integrated value and the second integrated values wherein the signal from the first and second integrated values are our of phase to reduce the dark period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- a switch that alternately directs an analog signal between a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein a period of time is required to alternate between the first and second circuits and the period of time includes a dark period;
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20. A method for reducing a dark period between successive data acquisition periods associated with the detection of one or more target molecules hybridized to at least one of a plurality of probes disposed upon a biological probe array, comprising:
- alternately directing an analog signal between a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein a period of time is required to alternate between the first and second circuits and the period of time includes a dark period;
integrating the analog signal in the first circuit to generate a first integrated value;
integrating the analog signal in the second circuit to generate a second integrated value; and
producing a digital value for each of the first integrated value and the second integrated values wherein the signal from the first and second integrated values are our of phase to reduce the dark period. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
- alternately directing an analog signal between a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein a period of time is required to alternate between the first and second circuits and the period of time includes a dark period;
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36. A scanner system for reducing a dark period between successive data acquisition periods associated with the detection of one or more target molecules hybridized to at least one of a plurality of probes disposed upon a biological probe array, comprising;
- scanner optics and detectors comprising;
a source that provides an excitation beam;
optics that direct the excitation beam at each of the plurality of probes disposed upon the biological probe array, wherein the optics collect emissions responsive to the excitation beam; and
a detector that produces an analog signal responsive to the collected emissions from the optics; and
a computer having executable firmware stored thereon and a sensor board comprising;
a switch that alternately directs the analog signal between a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein a period of time is required to alternate between the first and second circuits;
a first integrator associated with the first circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a first integrated value;
a second integrator associated with the second circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a second integrated value; and
an analog/digital converter that produces a digital value for each of the first integrated value and the second integrated values.
- scanner optics and detectors comprising;
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37. A system for computing correction values between integrators comprising:
- a voltage reference generator that provides a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage;
a switch that sequentially directs the first and second reference voltage between a first circuit and a second circuit;
a first integrator associated with the first circuit that sequentially integrates the first and second reference voltage to generate a first reference value and a second reference value;
a second integrator associated with the second circuit that sequentially integrates the first and second reference voltage to generate a third reference value and a fourth reference value; and
firmware that computes an offset correction value and a gain correction value, wherein the offset correction value and the gain correction value are computed from a difference between an offset value and a gain value each associated with a first linear plot based upon the first and second reference values, and a second linear plot based upon the third and fourth reference values. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
- a voltage reference generator that provides a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage;
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44. A method for computing correction values between integrators comprising:
- providing a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage;
sequentially directing the first and second reference voltage between a first circuit and a second circuit;
sequentially integrating the first and second reference voltage in the first circuit to generate a first reference value and a second reference value;
sequentially integrating the first and second reference voltage in the second circuit to generate a third reference value and a fourth reference value; and
computing an offset correction value and a gain correction value, wherein the offset correction value and the gain correction value are computed from a difference between an offset value and a gain value each associated with a first linear plot based upon the first and second reference values, and a second linear plot based upon the third and fourth reference values.
- providing a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage;
Specification